Preliminary study on Monte Carlo-based simulation and verification of spot scanning carbon ion beam model / 中华放射医学与防护杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To develop a spot scanning carbon ion beam model based on Monte Carlo code FLUKA and verify the accuracy of physical dose.Methods:A geometric model of the treatment nozzle was established in FLUKA. Various parameters such as monoenergy nominal energy, Gaussian energy spectrum distribution, initial spot size, and beam angular distribution in the model were adjusted to match the reference data of integral depth dose (IDD) and in-air spot size measuremed experimentally. Carbon ion beam plans were generated by using the treatment planning system (TPS). The difference in output dose distribution between FLUKA and TPS was compared by the gamma analysis.Results:The differences in Bragg peak width, beam range, and distal falloff width extracted from the IDD curve between the FLUKA model and measured vaues were less than 0.1 mm, with the maximum difference in spot sizes of 0.17 mm. Under the criterion of 2 mm/2% in all the simulations, 2D- and 3D-γ pass rates were all above 95%.Conclusions:An accurate spot scanning carbon beam model was developed based on the Monte Carlo code FLUKA. It has the potential to be used for not only the verification of clinical treatment plans, but also the development of new ion beam therapy equipment and the calculation of biologically effective dose.